CCS reviews West Asia crisis
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reviewed the evolving situation in West Asia and expressed concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region.
An official statement said the CCS also directed all concerned departments to take necessary and feasible measures to assist Indian nationals affected by the developments. The CCS also underscored the importance of an early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the meeting.
The CCS meeting was also attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Secretaries to the Prime Minister P K Mishra and Shaktikanta Das, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.The statement said the CCS met to review the evolving situation in West Asia, and the meeting was briefed on the air strikes in Iran on February 18 and the subsequent escalation, including attacks in several Gulf countries.
“It (CCS) expressed serious concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region,” the statement said.The CCS also reviewed the difficulties faced by Indian travellers transiting the region and students appearing for scheduled examinations, as well as the broader implications for regional security and economic and commercial activities.
“The CCS directed all concerned departments to take necessary and feasible measures to assist Indian nationals affected by the developments. It underscored the importance of an early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement said.
There are around 10,000 Indian citizens who live, study and work in Iran, while over 40,000 live in Israel. The number of Indians who live in the Gulf and West Asia is about 9 million.Currently, the airspace of West Asia is almost closed.
With flight services disrupted due to the military escalation in West Asia, hundreds of Indians are stranded in Dubai, Doha and other key hub airports, with many of them taking to social media to appeal to the Indian Government for assistance.India has in the past successfully evacuated thousands of Indians from different parts of the world, including West Asia, amidst conflicts.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions across the region are in continuous contact with nationals, and helplines have been activated.
